A newly reported molecular mechanism may help explain why hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common primary liver cancer, can become so difficult to control once it begins to spread. By increasing stem cell-like properties, LINC02709 may help a subset of liver cancer cells remain adaptable while moving through the metastatic cascade. If those questions are answered, a once-overlooked non-coding RNA could become a useful guide to the biology—and potentially the treatment—of metastatic liver cancer. Subject of Research: LINC02709, hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis, cancer stem cell-like properties and Kupffer cell phagocytosisArticle Title: LINC02709 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by increasing stem cell-like properties and suppressing Kupffer cell phagocytosis. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-026-03276-8Image Credits: AI GeneratedDOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-026-03276-8Keywords: LINC02709, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cancer, metastasis, long non-coding RNA, cancer stemness, Kupffer cells, phagocytosis, immune evasion